Yarn sizing apparatus



Nov. 15, 1966 l. L. GRIFFIN YARN SIZING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1964 INVENTOR: IEA. L. C@ FFM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,284,869 YARN SIZING APPARATUS Ira L. Griffin, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Ira L. Griffin & Sons, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Sept. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 394,119 4 Claims. (Cl. 28-28) This invention relates generally to an improved yarn sizing apparatus of the type adapted to apply a size solution to a sheet of yarns as they are passed through the size box of a slasher. More particularly, the improved sizing apparatus includes a grooved doctor roll that is rotated in engagement with an immersion roll to permit the passage of a predetermined amount of size beneath the doctor roll.

Most size boxes presently in use include a tank in which the size solution is maintained at a predetermined temperature and level. Suitable rolls are supported therein for guiding a sheet of yarns beneath the surface of the size solution and then :between at least one pair of pressure rolls to squeeze the excess size solution from the yarns before they pass out of the size box. In most instances, the yarns are guided into the size solution by means of an immersion rolled which is positioned with at least its bottom portion submerged in t-he size solution. A doctor roll having a smooth outer surface is normally supported for rotation in engagement with the upper portion of the immersion roll and operates to prevent an excess amount of size solution from being carried around by the immersion roll and being deposited against the incoming sheet of yarns and back in the size solution. The size solution is normally heated in the tank of the size box to vmaintain it in a liquid condition because it lhas a tendency to coagulate if it is allowed to cool.

When a smooth-faced doctor roll is used, the size solution tends to form a film on the immersion roll that acts 'as a lubricant and prevents continuous rotation of the doctor roll. Also, when the doctor roll is not rotating, the size on the upper portion tends to congeal and then when the doctor roll is rotate-d, a ridge of partially congealed size forms at the nip of the doctor roll with the immersion roll. Yarn fibers in the size solution and lumpy particles of size also contribute to the build-up of partially congealed ridge of size at the nip -of the doctor roll and immersion roll. Occasionally, this partially congealed size will pass between the doctor roll and the imrnersion roll and be carried into contact with the sheet of yarns passing `beneath the immersion roll. This partially congealed size sometimes causes the yarns to tape together and also causes hard spots on the yarn which do not receive the proper application of size as they pass through the size box.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved size box wherein the surface of the doctor roll is of such a character that rotation of the doctor roll is not interrupted and an even and uniformly distributed amount of size solution remains on the immersion roll.

It is another object of rthe present invention to provide an improved size box of the type described wherein the doctor roll is provided with laterally spaced grooves extending around the roll and throughout the length of at least that por-tion of the doctor roll which is in engagernent with the immersion roll.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a grooved `doctor roll which may be economically manufactured and easily installed in operational position in existing size boxes.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds,

M:ce

when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved size box with the cover in raised condition to expose the rolls disposed therein;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the size box shown in FIGURE 1 and Ibeing taken in a direction parallel to the movement of the yarns through lthe size box, with the cover in closed condition;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 3 3 in FIGURE 2, showing the grooved doctor roll in elevation and resting against the upper periphery of the immersion roll; and

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken at the nip `of the doctor roll with the immersion roll and illustrating the manner in which the spaced ridges on the grooved doctor roll engage the periphery of the immersion roll and permit a predetermined amount of size to pass there-between.

The grooved doctor roll is shown associated with a well-known commercially available type of size box, however, it is to be understood that the doctor roll may be used with other types of size boxes. The size box includes a pair of end frames 10 and 11 (FIGURES 1 and 2) and a tank 12 that is supported in spaced relationship between the end frames 10 and 11. As the sheet of yarns Y move to the size box, they pass over a pair of lead-in rolls 14 and 15 and beneath a dancing roll 16. The opposite ends of the lead-in rolls 14, 15 are suitably supported for rotation on the frame members 1t), 11 and the dancing roll 16 is supported for vertical movement in suitable guide brackets 17.

From the lead-in roll 15, the yarns Y pass downwardly and are immersed in the size solution S as they pass beneath a rubber covered immersion roll 20. It will be noted in FIGURE 2 that the immersion roll 20 is partially submerged in the size solution S and, in this particular case, the immersion roll 20 engages a steel lower squeeze vroll 21, for purposes to be presently described. Opposite ends of the immersion roll 20 are supported Vfor rotation in the lower ends of support arms 22, the upper ends of which are supported on vertically movable standards 23. The standards 23 have gear racks 24 suitably secured to ltheir outer faces, only one of which is shown in FIGURE l.

The immersion roll 20 may at times be raised from the operative position shown in FIGURE 2 to a position out 'of the size `solution by means of the vertically movable standard 23 and the gear rack 24. The gear rack 2 4 is engaged by a gear, not shown, that is xed on a roll lifting drive shaft 26. Rotation may be imparted to the roll liftingdrivepshaft 26 by a hand wheel 30 which is fixed on one end of a shaft 31. The shaft 31 passes through a gear box 32 and is drivingly connected to the drive shaft 26 by suitable gears in the gear Ibox 32. The other end of the shaft 31 is drivingly connected to a gear box and a roll lifting drive shaft at the other side of the size box.

Rotation of the hand wheel 30 imparts ver-tical movement to the gear rack 24 and the standard 23 to thereby raise and lower the immersion roll 20 to the desired position. The arms 22 are pivotally supported at their upper ends on the upper ends of fthe standards 23 and suitable air cylinders, not shown, are provided for applying pressure to the immersion roll 20 in a direction toward the lower squeeze roll 21.

A rubber covered upper squeeze roll 34 is normally positioned in pressure engagement with the lower squeeze roll 21, as shown in FIGURE 2, and opposite ends are rotatably supported in support arms 35, only one of which is shown. The support arms 35 are pivotally supponted on the `frame members 10 and 11 and the 3 upper ends of air motor connector rods 36 are connectedv intermediate the ends of the support arms.35. The lower ends of the rods 36 are connected to air cylinders 40 which are in turn supported on the side frame members and 11.

These air cylinders are provided with central diaphragms and are of the double-acting type so that when air is introduced under pressure above the diaphragm, pressure will be applied in a downward direction on the upper squeeze Aroll 34. The sheet of yarns Y is brought up out of the size solution S and in contact with the combination immersion and squeeze roll 20. The sheet of yarns Y is squeezed as it is transferred onto the lower squeeze'roll 21. As the sheet of yarns Y passes over the lower squeeze roll 21, it is again squeezed between the nip of the upper and lower squeeze rolls 34 and 21. The yarns Y then pass out of the size box and to a suitable drying apparatus which is a part of the slasher.

It is preferred that the tank 12 of the size box be provided with a suitable cover 42 which is hinged at the exit end to be raised to permit inspection of the rolls within the size box. The cover 42 retards the escape of the moist heated air rising from the size solution S that is maintained at an elevated temperature by suitable steam coils 43-(FIGURE 2.). The cover 42 is provided so that size carried up by the rolls 20, 21 and 34 will not. Icool and coagulate as readily as it would if it were exposed to the room temperature and atmosphere.

A doctor roll, broadly indicated at 45, is rotatably supported at opposite ends for limited vertical movement in vertical channels 46. The upper ends of the channels 46 are suitably supported on the support arms 22 to permit the doctor roll 45 to rest by gravity in engagement with the upper portion of the immersion lroll 20. Opposite ends of the doctor roll are preferably supported for free rotation in nylon bearing blocks 47 (FIGURE 3) that are in turn supported in the channels 46 for limited vertical movement. The doctor roll 45 normally has a smooth outer periphery that forms a nip with the upper portion of the immersion roll 20, as best shown in FIGURE 2.

As the sheet of yarns Y passes through the size box, the lower immersion roll 20 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 2 and the size solution is brought upwardly to form a pool P of size above the nip of the immersion roll 20 and the lower squeeze roll 21. The pool of size P is formed as the doctor -roll 45 prevents vthe size from being carried over on the surface of the rotating immersion roll 20 to be returned to the size solution S. The doctor roll 45 is normally rotated with rotation of the immersion roll 20, however, the size has a tendency to form a lubricating film between the nip of the conventional smooth-faced doctor roll 45 and the immersion roll 20 so that sufficient traction is not maintained by the doctor roll and rotation of the doctor roll is interrupted.

'I'he improved doctor roll 45 is provided with Ia nonsm-ooth surface having .a pattern of uniformly arranged protrusions and depressions therebetween. In t-he pre- 'ferred form, the depressions are formed on the surface of the doctor roll 45 by closely :spaced peripheral grooves 50 extending around the circumference of the doctor roll and the protrusions are formed by the protruding immersion 4roll engaging ridges between the grooves. In the present instance, the grooves 50 are helical and are preferably cut in the surface of a rubber covering on the roll in the same manner as screw threads, with a lateral spacing of about 12 to t-he inch. The grooves 50 are preferably about 1/32 of 1an inch deep and the doctor roll is preferably from about 2'1/2 to 31/2 inches in diameter. As is best shown in FIGURE 4, the grooves 50 are preferably L?, V-shaped, similar to screw threads, however, it is to be understood that the grooves could have flat bottoms and need not necessarily be in the form of one helical continuous groove as they could extend straight around the doctor roll Iand in spaced relationship to each other.

The depth of the grooves and the number of grooves per inch in the doctor -roll may be varied in accordance with the viscosity of the `size solution. Generally, the thinner the size solution, the greater the number of grooves per inch Iand the thicker t-he size solution, the smaller the number of grooves per inch. The grooved doctor roll may be formed of any type of suitable metal, it may have a rubber covering with the grooves cut therein, or it may have -a covering of plastic material with the grooves cut or otherwise formed therein, such as by molding.

This type of grooved d-octor .roll is `drivingly rotated by the immersion roll because the protruding ridges between the grooves maintain tractional contact against the immersion roll. A predetermined small amount of size is permitted to pass through at the nip of the doctor roll 45 with the immersion roll 20I and the size that is permitted to pass therebetween is uniformly distributedl on the periphery of the lower immersion roll as it moves into contact with the sheet of yarns Y extending downwardly from the lead-in roll 15. Thus, the uniform application of size on what may be tenmed the inside of the yarns as they come into contact with the immersion roll 20 thus insures that both sides of the yarn have size applied thereto.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not ,for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a size box havin-g a tank for containing size solution, an immersion roll at least partially submerged in the size solution, squeeze rofl means, and means for directing a sheet of yarns into the size |b-ox and successively beneath said immersion roll .and through said squeeze roll means; the combination therewith lof a doctor roll, means supporting said doctor roll for rotation in engagement with said immersion roll and above the level of the size solution,

said doctor roll having a non-smooth peripheral surface comprising a pattern of uniformly .arranged protrusions and depressions therebetween, said pattern extending around and throughout the lengt-h of at least that portion of said doctor 4roll which is in engagement with said immersion roll, said protrusions being maintained in traction- .al engagement with the surface of said immersion roll to insure continued driven rotation of said doctor roll, and the depressions permitting a predetermined .amount of size solution to pass beneath said doctor roll and to remain on the surface of said irnersion roll after it passes said doctor roll. I

` 2. A size box according to claim 1 wherein the protrusions and depressions on-said doctor' roll comprise respective ridges and grooves extending therearound.

3. A size box according to claim 2 wherein said ridges Vand grooves are helical.

4. A size box according to claim 2 wherein said doctor roll includes a rubber covering with said ridges and grooves formed therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,826,801 10/1931 LittlefOId. 2,977,662 4/ 1961 Freeze etal 28-28 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Exmne.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, L. K. RIMRODT,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A SIZE BOX HAVING A TANK FOR CONTAINING SIZE SOLUTION, AN IMMERSION ROLL AT LEAST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN THE SIZE SOLUTION, SQUEEZE ROLL MEANS, AND MEANS FOR DIRECTING A SHEET OF YARNS INTO A SIZE BOX AND SUCCESSIVELY BENEATH SAID IMMERSION ROLL AND THROUGH SAID SQUEEZE ROLL MEANS; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH A DOCTOR ROLL, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID DOCTOR ROLL FOR ROTATION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID IMMERSION ROLL AND ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE SIZE SOLUTION, SAID DOCTOR ROLL HAVING A NON-SMOOTH PERIPHERAL SURFACE COMPRISING A PATTERN OF UNIFORMLY ARRANGED PROTRUSIONS AND DEPRESSIONS THEREBETWEEN, SAID PATTERN EXTENDING AROUND AND THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF AT LEAST THAT PORTION OF SAID DOCTOR ROLL WHICH IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID IMMERSION ROLL, SAID PROTURSIONS BEING MAINTAINED IN TRACTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURFACE OF SAID IMMERSION ROLL TO INSURE CONTINUED DRIVEN ROTATION OF SAID DOCTOR ROLL, AND THE DEPRESSIONS PERMITTING A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF SIZE SOLUTION TO PASS BENEATH SAID DOCTOR ROLL AND TO REMAIN ON THE SURFACE OF SAID IMERSION ROLL AFTER IT PASSES SAID DOCTOR ROLL. 